The Columbia News from Columbia, Kentucky • Page 1

Id 4 I A I Iy IyT 0 1 I 4 rr A sT lt i unnt WV 1 VOLUME XII COLUMBIA ADAIR COUNTY KENTUCKY WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 1908 NUMBER 6 i HORRIBLE CRIME CRIMEa Little Mamie Wormack a Russell County School Girl Assaulted And Mur dered ELMER HILL CHARGED WITH CRIMEA crime the like of which never before was committed in this part of the State was perpetrated near Mt Olive school house about three miles from Russell Springs in Russell county late Tuesday afternoon last week Mamie Wormack a daughter of Mr Logan Wormack eleven years Old was a pupil in a school that is being taught about one mile from the home of her parents and when school was dismissed on the afternoon above mentioned she started home in company with other pupils small girls and they were all together until they got within three hundred yards of where Mamie Wor mack lived Here the girls turned into another road which led to their respective homes Mamie starting alone to her house She had not gone more than fifty yards when she was seized and dragged into the woods assaulted and murdered her head being beaten into pulp The above facts were developed when Mamie failed to reach her parents home and when she was found dead in the woods by parties who had gone in search of her The whole country was immidiately aroused bloodhounds ordered from Lincoln county and placed on the trail of the murderer the man suspected being Elmer Hill a cousin of the little girl and who lived in the same neighborhood I borhoodThe The dogs followed the trail through Russell county and into Adair and finally I lost the scent at Long View two miles from Columbia A large crowd of detirmined men was with the dogs from the start and while the trail was lost about 11 oclock Thursday a the hunt for the incarnate devil was by no means abandoned and every effort will be continued until the scoundrel is caught Perhaps no crime was ever committed in this part of Kentucky which aroused the indignation of more people Hundreds of men have been searching the woods since the awful deed was perpetrated and their procedure and expressions plainly tell that Judge Lynch would sit in judgment should the guilty party be apprehended Elmer Hill who is accused is about 23 or 25 years old light comple ted and will weigh about 150 or 160 pounds and has an impediment in his speech He is a man of bad reputation Twenty or thirty men from Russell county a I searching party were here Thursday I and one of the leaders informed the News that there was not a doubt as to Hills guilt The parents of the little victim are distressed almost to death and the good people of Russell county are crying for vengeance It is hoped by every body that theM brute in human form will be caught and if he should be there is scarcely a doubt as to the punishment which will follow quickly after his apprehension LATERThe accused was caught Sunday morning in an outbuilding asleep near Sano Adair county His captors were Wolford Wilson and a young man named Shepherd As above stated bloodhounds were on the trail of the murderer for several days losing the scent at the Long View in this county From this point it is believed that Hill made his way back to Russell county and from Russell county he went into Adair where he was caught and landed in the Jamestown Jail Sunday morning before daylight About 9 ocock Sunday morning an examining trial was called by Dunbar County Judge of Russell An examination was wavied and the accused remanded to jail until 8 oclock Monday morning when he was to again be presented to the Court All day Sunday Jamestown was full of men and mob talk was freely indulged in inBetween Between 9 and 10 olocck Sunday night a mob numbering between sixty and seventyfive men entered James town went to the jail for the purpose of taking Hill out and hanging him but the accused had been spirited away by officers When the mob failed to find the prisoner in the jail the next move was to search several dwellings in the town Failing to find the man the mob quitely rode out of town It is almost certain that the officers 1 carried Hill to the Monticello jail for safe keeping as It is known that they crossed Greasy creek going in that direction at 7 oclock Monday morn ing mgWe rfrom a reliable source had I JttieToriob secured I Hill at the I i1i all A a i arrangements had been made to burn him alive Hex would have been carried to the place where the horrible crime was commmitted and there cremated Mrs Wormack the mother of the dead girl having agreed to start the fire A reward of 350 will be paid if Hill is convicted 250 by the State and 100 by Russell county The States reward was offered on the 12th and the arrest was make on the 13th I The News called Jamestown Monday morning and talked to a prominent citizen He said that he did not think himself that a mob would visit the Wayne county jail but that there were many who did not agree with him The excitement in Russell county is still very high Sixteen Days in a Cave Nigger the black dog belohging to Mr Blucher Bohanan who lives on Mr Youngs farm near Columbia caught a crow one night in November and in the tussle it got away and entered a cave with Nigger in hot pursuit For two or three days no special I alarm was felt for Niggers safty as he was known to be very determined but as he did not come out in that time his owner became uneasy and began work in earnest to secure his freedom The bark of the dog could be plainly heard but the opening being between two heavy layers of stone and too small for a person to enter it was nearly impossible to locate him or to determine the real trouble At any rate Mr Bohanan used dynamite and powder for several days and nights in trying to reach him but made but little headway The rescue was abandoned and Nigger was left to his fate about 10 or 12 days On the 16th day Mr Bohan ans little girl 10 or 12 years old went to the cave and called the dog and he could be plainly heard begging for help This affected the little girl arousing her symphathy to the highest point She went to the house and begged to be allowed to crawl into the cave but just at that moment Nigger came walking up He had gained his freedom after sixteen days and nights under the earth and while weak and thin he was all right and ready for a hunt the next dayWWilling Willing to Call a Speaial Term Judge Baker is at home this week being kept from the Monroe court by I the sickness of his son Baker We understand he has under consideration the calling of a special team of the Russell Court as soon as practicable that a grand jury may investigate the killing of Mamie Wormack and if an indictment is found that a speedy trial may be had and he will at once communicate with the authorities in Russell in reference to the matter and cooperate with them in legal steps to this end In the meantime the people should be patient and give the law an opportunity to vindicate itself When it does so by the conviction and punishment of the criminal the effect will be worth more by a thousand time than any mob action which may be taken in violation of law i Heavy Damages Last Thursday night Fred McLean received word that his sister Mrs EI Hamilton had been awarded a judgment for six thousand and and five hundred dollars against the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company by a jury in Memphis Tenn for injuries suffered in a wreckon the railroad near Horse Cave Ky several years ago while returning to her home at Mc Crory Ark after a visit to relatives in this city It was the second trial of the case the first judgment being for four thousand dollars in favor of Mrs I Hamilton but the supreme court of Tennessee reversed the finding of the lower court and remanded it for fur thur trial with the above result 1 Work of the Town Supervisors i i Judge Jones John Coffey and Miller Supervisors of the taxable property of the town of Columbia completed their work last Thursday afternoon They took the list handed in by the assessor and made fewer raises than any other board for several years The whole amount of the raise did not exceed 25000 After making the raise the total amount of the taxable property in Columbia Ioo ted up 571996 a few thousand in ad I vanceof last years list arrangements have been tAll made to 1 open a bank at Creelsborp the first of I Sfenuary Workman are now building the vault Mr Abner Jones of Jamestown will be the cashier It is a most excellent selection as Mr Jones isa young man of exemplary habits pos sessingvfine business qualifications I 1 i FATAL ACCIDENT A Fiveyear Old son of Howard Murrell Burned to Death I LITTLE VICTIM LIVED A FEW HOURS Last Monday Rollis a little five year old son of Mr and TMrs Howard Mur rell who reside near Clear Spring was fatally burned dying in two hours The little fellow with a sister a few years older were in the yard where water in a large kettle was being heated The little boy got too close to the flames and his clothing caught burning him into a crisp His sister who attempted to extinguish the flames was also badly burned about the hands and armsThis This is a distressing blow to the much grieved parents who have the sympathy of every body in the neighborhood Died in Elida New Mexico Judge A Murrell received a message last Thursday morning from his brother Dr Murrell Elida New Mexico stating that the latters wife had died the afternoon before This announcement brought sorrow to many relatives and friends in Adair county where the deceased was born and reared and where she was married toner husband about four years ago She was a daughter of Mr Do honey Sr who lives on the Burkes ville pike two and onehalf miles from Columbia and was educated in this placeIrene Irene as she was familiarly called possessed a lovable Christian character and was a special favorite in her old home neighborhood hence the intelligence of her death was a serious blow to her father brothers and sisters and her former associates She was a victim of pulmonary trouble dwas a sufferer for several year during which time every thing earthly that could be done bya loving and faithful husband was done When quite a girl the deceased made a profession of her faith in Christ united with the Presbyterian Church and was a devout member until the end came The interment was at Elida The husband who is left childless has the sincere sympathy of the people of Adair county The News admonition to all sorrow lug relatives is continue to walk in the straight and narrow path and you will again see Irene Death of a Wellknown Citizen Last Thursday afternoon after an illness of several weeks Mr Sid Caldwell a wellknown citizen of this county died at his latehome near Portland He was between sixtyeight and seventy years old and had been an active farmer and trader all his life He was a man who will be greatly missed in the neighborhood where he so long resided He had been prosperous from early manhood and leaves a very good estate He was twice married He is survived by his wife and four daughters by his first wife Mrs Tom Wag gener of this place being one of the number The funeral services were at the home and the interment was in the family burying ground a large number of relatives and friends being present Badly Burned Mr Clarence Page the conductor of one of the automobile carriages between Columbia and Campbellsville got badly burned about the hands and on his arms at the latter place last Friday He was washing his hands with gasoline a lantern sitting close by A boy came up as we understand struck a match the head flying off igniting the gasoline Mr Pages hands and arms were badly burned and it will probably be several days before he will be able for duty Victim of Paralysis Mr Lucien Durham a wellknown citizen of Miami Green county met with a stroke of paralysis last Thursday He is very badly afflicted and there are grave doubts as to his recovery Two doctors have been in attendance since lwas stricken He has many warm friends who areanx ious to hear favorable reports from his bedside bedsideRemember Remember and attend the recitals at the Lindsey Wilson Thursdayand Friday evenings of this week Enjoyable entertainments no charge Come everybody i bodySee See the magnificent display of Christ mss goods at Cravens store 1 i7ct iif I ONE MAN KILLED iJackson Jackson Voils oat was Employed I Andrew Foleys Mill I Meets Death THE BOILER OF THE MILL EXPLODED A terrible and lamentable accident occurred at Andrew Foleys mill in Russell county near the Russell Springs last Monday afternoon The explosion was terrific and Jackson Voils who was employed at the mill was killed and the machinery fearfully damaged Mr Voils was a good citizen and an industrious hardworking manDeath Death of a Green County Citizen Mr TDowdy a wellknown citizen of Green county and who had a passing acquaintance with a number of Columbians died at his late home near I Gresham last Thursday a victim of stomach trouble If our information is correct he was a native of Spencer county and became a citizen of Greens burg soon after the railroad reached that place He was about sixty years of age a good neighbor and a kind father His first wife died many years ago and he is survived by his second wife and a numberof children One of his daughters is the wife of Mr Charley Cabell Miami Peace to his memory I A Runaway Last Thursday night about 7 oclock as Tom Ed Jeffries and Ewing Stults were returning home having been out hunting they met with an accident near the bridge which crosses Russells Creek at Wilsons old mill They were in a buggy and just before they got to the bridge the horse made a quick turn evidently to take the old road and cross Sulphur The buggy was upset the horse starting at a rapid gait He was finally stopped at Parsons blacksmith shop by Mr Feese The buggy was considerably damaged but neither Mr Jeffries nor Mr Stults were hurt ThanksBradfordsville Bradfordsville Ky Dec 12th 1908 Mr Harris Columbia Ky Dear sire Enclosed you will find one dollar to pay for one years subscription to the best county paper in the State The Adair County News Tne Gradyville letter each week is worth double the cost of the paper Hoping you success with your splendid newsy paper and a jolly good time Xmas I am yours most respectfully Walker Vance Speer Next Wednesday the 23d instMr David Vance and Miss Irene Frances Speer will be married at Liberty Church Taylor county the hour of ceremony being 630 Both contracting parties reside at Roachville Green county The intended bride is a niece of Mr Hutcl this place It is a popular yo couple and will doubtless receive rf useful presents Le ken A little daughtMC Mr Royse who lives near met with a serious accident last Say She was playing in the yar ith other children when she fell King one of her legs This makes th Bfccond time the same limb has been en Dr Cartwright was the attending ysician To Tlfl kdies Our trimmer eave in aver short time li to reduce our stock for the ne weeks we will sell hats at a gr ction Mesda bank Hurt Mules Wanted I I will be in Columbia next Friday to buy a lot of cotton mules Bring them to town A Pedigo The time for Justices courts has been changed from every three months to a court every month Squire Eu bank will hold his court on the fourth Mondays i if you want to resent 1t friend with a handsome present you can find Itatl vi VT I MV I Cravens store 4 1 I I CiThe i The December Schoolimoney is in theY I hands of the Superintendent jf4 IRev Cook a former pastor of the Baptist Church here is doing a grand work in Denison Texas He went to Texas in answer to a call from the Calvary Baptist Church that city and in four months preaching to that congregation many additions have been added Recently the South Side Baptist Church of that city and the Calvery Baptist Church consolidated and there was a unamimoiis call for Bro Cook which was accepted The Pastors Association of Denison has elected Bro Cook President of the organization and will endeavor in many ways to make him feel at home his new field fieldi I1fip reported here that four or five members of the mob which visited Jamestown jail Sunday night were in I advance ot the main squad and were stationed about the bastile in order to I prevent the spiriting away of Hill be I fore the mob arrived but notwithstanding that precantion Hill was taken out by officers and conveyed out of town on the read leading to Monticello to which place he was taken Monday morning We understand that the grandfather of the accused says their is proof sufficient to hang his grandson and that he hopes that the law will be allowed to take its course Thatcher State Inspector and Examiner in a statement filed with Gov Willson last Wednesday declares that the system of collection of jury fees by the Circuit Court Clerks is very laxand that the clerks are liable to the State on their bonds for delinquent jury fees He further says that the statutes provide that immediately upon the return of a verdict into Court the jury fee becomes due to the State from the successful litigant and that it should be at once paid to the State Circuit Clerks should take notice and govern themselves accordingly Rev Goodson one of the ablest preachers in the Louisville Conference was here last Sunday and filled the pulpit at the Methodist church forenoon and evening Large congregations were out and the two discourses were entertaining and very helpful At present Rev Goodson is Secretary of the Laymens Missionary movement of the Louisville Conference Adair county has a claim on this distinguished devine his mother having been born and reared in the countymarried to his father here many years ago Mr Butler Jones met with quite a painful accident last Wedneday He had purchased a hog and was oh the wagon with a man from whom he made these purcha and was en route to his home He had reached his premesis and was going through the gate when the team became frightened Mr Jones hjelieymg that he would be safer on the ground jumped but in so doing he fell and was considerably bruised about the face and hands He was unable to leave his bed Thursday The farmer who is not up with his work in this part of the country is to be pitied for he is a man who has more than is possible to accomplish or has whiled away his time while the beautiful autumn weather passed The truth is that last fall was the most pleasant and most inviting for outdoor employment than was ever known in this section of country before So anyone who failed to make use of the warm dry weather made a huge mistake dryI In withdrawing from the race for the Democratic nomination for Commonwealths Attorney in the Eleventh district Mr Durham publishes avery manly card in the Lebanon and Campbellsville papers Mr Durham is a Democra in whom there is no guile and at all times and under all circumstances he is ready to do battle for his party i A large barn and contents valued at 3000 which was the property of LR Johns near Elkhorn Taylor county was consumed by fire last Friday night It is our information that it was the work of an incindiary and that bloodhounds from Jefferson county were put upon the trail and the guilty party caught The old year is drawing to a close We will need all the money due us to meet our obligations therefore we ask every person who is indebted to us to call and make payment paymentW Jeffries Sons Mr I Meader ian old Columbia boy I is now beating the bushes in Taylor county for the Democratic nomination for circuit clerk The man who beats him will be nominated i George Taylor Co the large produce firm at Burnside Ky will be in Columbia 1 this week to arrange to open a house here If they fail to rent a building they will build one It is also stated that they will open a house rafr Campbellsville xi Fti 1 WENT OVER THE BLUFF A Team of Mules and Driver Al most Killed Wagon Demolished I OCCURRED ON FARM STEPHENSON Last Saturday Nathan Bell who is employed on the farm of Stephenson near Rowena Russell county met with a fearful accident With a team of mules he was hauling logs to a shoot on a mountain and when he reached the shoot he made a mistake in turning the wagon logs mules and Bell all going over the bluff Mr Bell lost all his teeth two joints of his backbone were displaced the mules horribly mangled and the wagon torn to pieces Both Mr Bell and the team will recover but were badly hurt Henry Beauchamp a former Met calfe county citizen who practiced law in Edmonton for many years but for some time has been a resident of Camp bellsville is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for County Judge of Taylor county We understand that he stands a good showing to be nominated Judge Baker will not be at the Monroe circuit court on account of the illness of his son Mr Baker Governor Willson has appointed an attorney to preside over the court Youngt Baker is not seriously ill but the Judge was unwilling to leave him not know ing the turn the case might take The ladies of the Presbyterian Church have opened a bazar in a front windowJ i of Coffey Pattesons store They are offering many handsome articles for sale It was very kind in Messrs Coffey Patteson to furnish them suchI a prominent and convenient place to show their work Mrs Sallie Hurt who was the wife of Art Hurt died in the Clear Spring neighborhood last Sunday night She was 35 years old andhad been in bad health for the past year She leaves a hunsband and three children and many relatives Her maiden name was GriderAccording According to tradition the four oldest 1 dwellings in Columbia are as follows The Brack Massie home Claud Hurts Wilsons and the property owned by Scott Montgomery occupied by Finis Rosenbaum It is said that these residences were built in 1800 or 1801 Dogs made a raid on Mr Penick Smiths flock of fine sheep one night last weekand killed thirtyfive of them We understand that they were worth from five to seven dollars each The dog tax will work to good advantage in this particular instance Mr TL Upton has left at this office four ears of Boone County white corn The ears are twelve inches long and the cob is closely fitted with fine grain The corn grew on Mr Uptons farm near Glenville He gathered 185 barrels of this variety If A English of this place sold his Cumberland county farm last week toE Cole for 3500 There is no dwelling upou the farm it having been burn 1 ed some time ago Before the burning Mr English valued the farm at 5000 Now is the time to prepare ground for Spring oats and corn The sooner it is turned the better it will yeild and the easier it will be to cultivate Turn up your ground and let it freeze and make more grain with greater ease 2 Judging from what we hear from different sources there will be a very large acreage set in tobacco in Adair county the coming season Many farm ers are now making preparations to burn plant beds Next Saturday will be the main day for shopping in Columbia before Christmas though there is a fine trade in town now The streets will be thronged with people the latter part of the week Do not fail to attend the entertainments at the LindseyWilson Thursday and Friday evenings of this week The will be to body 1 evenings open every anda cordial invitation is extended 1The The annual election of officers for Co lumbia Lodge No 96 Free and Ac 1 cepted Masons will take place Monday evening December 28 the 27thcoming on Sunday i If you want to see a find line of Christman supplies go and look through jr Cravens store i ti i ak Born to the wife of Thos Rice thatj 13th insty daughter i ft 7 jf i fJI FSI A A Ii Y4li.